11/13/24, 11:11 PM DAC Example Problem
DAC Example Problem
In the previous chapter, we discussed the two types of DACs. This chapter discusses an
example problem based on R-2R ladder DAC.
Example
Let us find the value of analog output voltage of R-2R Ladder DAC for a binary input,
b2 b1 b0 = 100.
Circuit Diagram and its Simplification
The circuit diagram of a 3-bit R-2R Ladder DAC when binary input, b2 b1 b0 = 100 applied
to it is shown in the following figure −
In the above circuit, there exists series and parallel combinations of resistors to the left of
point A with respect to ground. So, we can replace that entire resistor network with a
single resistor having resistance of 2RΩ.
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11/13/24, 11:11 PM DAC Example Problem
The simplified circuit diagram is shown in the following figure −
We can replace the part of the network that is connected to the left of point B with respect
to ground by using a Thevenin’s equivalent circuit. The modified circuit diagram is
shown in the following figure −
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11/13/24, 11:11 PM DAC Example Problem
In the above circuit, there exist a series combination of two resistors. Replace this
combination with a single resistor. The final circuit diagram after simplification is shown
in the following figure −
Now, the above circuit diagram looks like an inverting amplifier. It is having an input
VR
voltage of −
2
volts, input resistance of 2RΩ and feedback resistance of 2RΩ.
The output voltage of the circuit shown above will be −
2R VR
V0 = − (− )
2R 2
VR
V0 =
2
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VR
Therefore, the output voltage of 3-bit R-2R Ladder DAC is 2
volts for a binary input,
b2 b1 b0 = 100.
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11/13/24, 11:10 PM Digital to Analog Converters
Digital to Analog Converters
A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) converts a digital input signal into an analog
output signal. The digital signal is represented with a binary code, which is a combination
of bits 0 and 1. This chapter deals with Digital to Analog Converters in detail.
The block diagram of DAC is shown in the following figure −
A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) consists of a number of binary inputs and a single
output. In general, the number of binary inputs of a DAC will be a power of two.
Types of DACs
There are two types of DACs
Weighted Resistor DAC
R-2R Ladder DAC
This section discusses about these two types of DACs in detail −
Weighted Resistor DAC
A weighted resistor DAC produces an analog output, which is almost equal to the digital
(binary) input by using binary weighted resistors in the inverting adder circuit. In
short, a binary weighted resistor DAC is called as weighted resistor DAC.
The circuit diagram of a 3-bit binary weighted resistor DAC is shown in the following
figure −
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11/13/24, 11:10 PM Digital to Analog Converters
Recall that the bits of a binary number can have only one of the two values. i.e., either 0
or 1. Let the 3-bit binary input is b2 b1 b0 . Here, the bits b2 and b0 denote the Most
Significant Bit (MSB) and Least Significant Bit (LSB) respectively.
The digital switches shown in the above figure will be connected to ground, when the
corresponding input bits are equal to ‘0’. Similarly, the digital switches shown in the above
figure will be connected to the negative reference voltage, −VR when the corresponding
input bits are equal to ‘1’.
In the above circuit, the non-inverting input terminal of an op-amp is connected to
ground. That means zero volts is applied at the non-inverting input terminal of op-amp.
According to the virtual short concept, the voltage at the inverting input terminal of
opamp is same as that of the voltage present at its non-inverting input terminal. So, the
voltage at the inverting input terminal’s node will be zero volts.
The nodal equation at the inverting input terminal’s node is:
0 + VR b2 0 + VR b1 0 + VR b0 0 − V0
+ + + = 0
0 1 2
2 R 2 R 2 R Rf
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V0 VR b2 VR b1 VR b0
=> = + +
0 1 2
Rf 2 R 2 R 2 R
VR Rf b2 b1 b0
=> V0 = { + + }
0 1 2
R 2 2 2
Substituting, R = 2Rf 𝑓 in above equation.
VR Rf b2 b1 b0
=> V0 = { + + }
0 1 2
2Rf 2 2 2
VR b2 b1 b0
=> V0 = { + + }
0 1 2
2 2 2 2
The above equation represents the output voltage equation of a 3-bit binary weighted
resistor DAC. Since the number of bits are three in the binary (digital) input, we will get
seven possible values of output voltage by varying the binary input from 000 to 111 for a
fixed reference voltage, VR .
We can write the generalized output voltage equation of an N-bit binary weighted
resistor DAC as shown below based on the output voltage equation of a 3-bit binary
weighted resistor DAC.
VR bN −1 bN −2 b0
=> V0 = { + +. . . . + }
0 1 N −1
2 2 2 2
The disadvantages of a binary weighted resistor DAC are as follows −
The difference between the resistance values corresponding to LSB & MSB will
increase as the number of bits present in the digital input increases.
It is difficult to design more accurate resistors as the number of bits present in the
digital input increases.
R-2R Ladder DAC
The R-2R Ladder DAC overcomes the disadvantages of a binary weighted resistor DAC. As
the name suggests, R-2R Ladder DAC produces an analog output, which is almost equal to
the digital (binary) input by using a R-2R ladder network in the inverting adder circuit.
Thecircuit diagramof a 3-bit R-2R Ladder DAC is shown in the following figure −
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11/13/24, 11:10 PM Digital to Analog Converters
Recall that the bits of a binary number can have only one of the two values. i.e., either 0
or 1. Let the 3-bit binary input is b2 b1 b0 . Here, the bits b2 and b0 denote the Most
Significant Bit (MSB) and Least Significant Bit (LSB) respectively.
The digital switches shown in the above figure will be connected to ground, when the
corresponding input bits are equal to ‘0’. Similarly, the digital switches shown in above
figure will be connected to the negative reference voltage, −VR when the corresponding
input bits are equal to ‘1’.
It is difficult to get the generalized output voltage equation of a R-2R Ladder DAC. But, we
can find the analog output voltage values of R-2R Ladder DAC for individual binary input
combinations easily.
The advantages of a R-2R Ladder DAC are as follows −
R-2R Ladder DAC contains only two values of resistor: R and 2R. So, it is easy to
select and design more accurate resistors.
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If more number of bits are present in the digital input, then we have to include
required number of R-2R sections additionally.
Due to the above advantages, R-2R Ladder DAC is preferable over binary weighted
resistor DAC.
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